Sounds to me like you are being taken for a ride.  I have switched 3 orf my
personal non-vw vehicles to r134, and the cost to the home mechanic, at most
is about $70.  If you are a purist, then a little more for someone will need
to evacuate the system instead of releasing into the atmos.  Then a retrofit
kit is needed to change the input to r134 style, and start putting in cans
of freon thru a hhose connector (both can be bought at wal-mart) If you have
a bad hose, that will need to be replaced, could be something as simple as
the o-ring where it attaches to the compressor, condensor, etc..

Don't get ripped off.  I would bet that nothing needs replaced. Roll up the
sleeves and investigate.  Take your time.

Adam Puzerewski
81 westy
-----Original Message-----
From: Tom Moritz <tmoritz@BMI.NET>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Date: Saturday, May 13, 2000 5:21 PM
Subject: [VANAGON] AC hoses

>Does anybody know of an alternate source for VW AC hoses?  Our mechanic has
>identified one leaky hose (the long high pressure one that runs from the
>compressor to the condensor coil) as well as a leaky compressor.  He has
>also told me that two of the other three hoses are seeping and could be
>going south.  My inclination is to take this opportunity to upgrade the
>system to R134 and he agrees but the cost is pretty darn high.  With parts
>from VW we are looking at over $2000.
>
>I have identified an alternate source for the compressor with clutch and
>filter dryer (Bus Depot - compressor and filter are less than half dealer
>price).  I haven't been able to find a distributer of aftermarket hoses
>though (Bus Depot is closed on weekends so I haven't confirmed if they have
>them or not).  Has anybody had to replace these hoses and found an
>alternate source?  If so, would you be willing to share your source?
>
>Thank you,
>
>Tom Moritz
>***********************************
>*                                       *
>*       From the computer of:   *
>*           Tom Moritz          *
>*                                       *
>***********************************